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USS La Jolla Deploys to Western Pacific

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060517-03
Release Date: 5/17/2006 11:34:00 AM

By Chief Journalist David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Friends and family members said aloha one last time to their submariners as the Pearl Harbor-based nuclear-powered attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) departed her homeport May 16, for a six-month Western Pacific deployment.

According to Cmdr. Pete Hildreth, La Jolla’s commanding officer, the crew is set to do their job.

“The crew has been working hard since October to get ready for deployment,” said Hildreth. “The crew has worked hard on training for the upcoming missions, and now they’re looking forward to going out and doing what they’re trained to do.”

Hildreth said his role is different this time around.

“This will be my first deployment as a submarine commanding officer, so it’s really exciting to go out on the front lines, particularly with the special capabilities of USS La Jolla, and use them in a real-world environment,” he said.

The family members, although saddened to see their loved ones go, are prepared for the separation.

“Preparing the families is one of the major parts of getting ready to deploy. We put a lot of energy into that,” said Hildreth.

“We held a three-hour brief and provided information booklets that have contact information. Preparing families is a major part of our job. That way, the guys can focus on their mission, which is what they want to do when they’re at sea,” Hildreth added.

As for concentrating on their tasks, Hildreth said his crew is ready to put their training to use.

“We are looking forward to heading to the Western Pacific and doing what we get paid to do,” Hildreth concluded.

Chief Electronics Technician Rodney Yager said it’s a lot easier to say goodbye knowing the families are taken care of.

“My wife is the ombudsman, so not only is she taking care of our family, but she is also taking care of the other wives.”

Although it’s hard for her to say goodbye, Amy Yager said she is glad to help out her La Jolla family.

“It allows the husbands to do their jobs knowing their families are taken care of," she said. "That means our husbands can take care of us, as a nation.”

The attack submarine returned home to the Pearl Harbor Naval Station submarine piers Aug. 23, 2004, after completing a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

La Jolla is one of three specially configured attack submarines equipped with the Special Operations-capable Dry Deck Shelter (DDS), which can allow special operations forces including Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, Land) to deploy undetected from deployed submarines.

The other DDS-capable submarines are USS Buffalo (SSN 715) and USS Los Angeles (SSN 688), also homeported in Pearl Harbor.

Commissioned Oct. 24, 1981, La Jolla is 360 feet long and displaces 6,900 tons. The submarine can be armed with sophisticated Mk 48 ADCAP anti-submarine torpedoes and Tomahawk guided cruise missiles.